University Museums

Decorative Arts

In 1962, Ann and Henry Brunnier pledged to Iowa State a collection of dolls and decorative arts amassed over fifty-five years. The donation included a comprehensive European, North American and Asian decorative art collection. This was comprised of glass, ceramics, Old Russian enamels, and ivory carvings. Ann’s collection included more than 4,000 objects, filling two semi-trucks. Since this original donation, hundreds of other private patrons have donated other decorative arts collections to expand the University Museums’ permanent collections. In addition to a large encyclopedic collection of glass, fine ceramics, Russian enamels and ivory, this collection also includes furniture, jades, pottery, snuff bottles, and carved wood objects.